Montana

MONTANA CONFERENCE // NEWS

Outdoor School activities include snorkeling.

GETTING BACK woke up this morning with an image in my head. I had been listening to some music I thought There was so much vibrant energy, I knew in that moment what my life calling was going to be. I wouldn’t find out until front of a computer 10 hours a day, trying to find the best way to break down science into easily understood fundamenI More online at glnr.in/115-04-mt_outdoors would be great for outdoor a decade or so later what the tals for video after video. We vespers. I was imagining which subject would be. I have always should be wading in creeks, students would feeling the thump in your chest be playing from a good chemistry exploguitar and sion, hearing the resonance of singing. The a vibrating rod and wrestling image was of a together over some chal

Friday evening lenging problems. I miss the vespers at the very things that drove me to top of our ski teaching in the first place: the run, just before students, the interactions, the it turns steep, energy of a full classroom. with the valley We are already planning and mountains for next year, which is difficult stretched out before us. We have really great Students enjoying an afternoon Sabbath hike. as no one knows exactly how next year will go. But whatever happens outside our sunsets here, and in my mind’s felt called to teach students campus, I feel optimistic about eye this sunset would be first; the love of a subject came our future. Our science lab incomparable. We would be in second. is getting a much anticipated that worshipful, contemplative The last few months I makeover. We are building mindset that comes with the have found myself sitting in a new amphitheater. The dying moments of another week. There would be a campStudents pose a the top of Mount Ellis. fire, the smell of Douglas fir, the crispness of a late summer JAMES STUART evening and students gathered around. It isn’t uncommon to have vespers at the ski lodge, particularly on snowy evenings later in the winter, but we have been missing these evening vespers as of late.

One of my first memories of the campus life of an academy was when I was following my grandfather around Laurelwood Academy.

gym parking lot and lobby are getting a face-lift. We are adding in new classes, including fly fishing and a dual-credit class in English. Biology class will be raising trout in the classroom.

We are going to get back to bonfire vespers, canoeing on the lake, hiking in the mountains, skiing on our ski hill, snorkeling with the trout,

Montana lakes provide a myriad of outdoor activities.

playing soccer and basketball, telling stories and laughing together, but most especially to what I love: togetherness with students.

James Stuart, Mount Ellis Academy vice principal for academics and science teacher

MONTANA NEWS // CONFERENCE

DAWN PETERSON MONTANA TEACHERS FOCUS ON STUDENTCENTERED LEARNING M ontana Conference teachers have been VALLEY ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Valley Adventist Christian School in Kalispell created More more online at glnr.in/115-04-mt_teachers focusing on student-centered a new flexible, homestyle learning this year. Whether learning environment. Teachthrough Family Groups, ers also decided to pursue Chapel Buddies, projectproject-based learning while based learning or mentorship cultivating a culture of growth programs, students are mindset. Students learned the learning to collaborate with benefits of collaboration while peers of any age as well MAURITA CREW strengthening their leadership as with their community members. Teachers are also focusing on social and spiritual Worship time during the weekly Chapel Buddies program at Trout Creek Adventist School. TROUT CREEK ADVENTIST SCHOOL skills. During Bible class they learned God is always ready to comfort and guide us on our development. Trout Creek Adventist earthly journey. aspects of education. Each School implemented two new Teachers also want stuMayra Lindberg, Montana month teachers chose a specific programs this year that enabled dents to get more involved in Conference communication skill to focus on and intromore inclusivity. On Thursday local service projects and plan department editor duced it during a Social Skills afternoons, the classroom to encourage more students to Assembly. The teachers usually of 10 students doubled as participate in the Partnering MOUNT ELLIS ELEMENTARY performed a short demonstrastudents were joined by Chapel for Eternity program, which This year Mount Ellis tion of the wrong way and the Buddies. The buddies are connects students with adult Elementary in Bozeman has right way to use the skill. Each students ages 4 and up who are community mentors. v focused primarily on the social month teachers chose one student from their room who best either not old enough to start school yet or who are being Dawn Peterson, Valley Adventist CALLIE ALLEN demonstrated the social skill of home-schooled. Together Christian School head teacher the month. Those students rethe kids enjoyed art, science ceived a certificate and a group projects, STEM challenges, DAWN PETERSON reward excursion. practical art, special event days The other big initiative and, of course, chapel time. this year was the introduction TCAS also implemented of Family Groups. Teachers Family STEM Nights once a divided the school into five quarter. These events fodiverse groups of students from cused on science, technology, pre-K through eighth grade. engineering and math. Family The groups met monthly and units worked together to solve engaged in a special activity, problems and create. A Mount Ellis Elementary student proudly displays his social skill-of-the-month certificate. game or worship thought. Kaila Johnson, Mount Ellis Elementary head teacher Maurita Crew, Trout Creek Adventist School head teacher First day of school team activity at Valley Adventist Christian School.